Walter A. Young

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Walter A. Young

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

The ancestry of Mr. YOUNG had its origin in Holland, whence members of the family emigrated at an early day to America, some of them locating in New Jersey, from which branch the subject of this mention is descended. Cornelius YOUNG, the great-grandfather, was born in Pequannock township, Morris county, New Jersey, and married Miss Elizabeth MANDEVILLE, a daughter of Anthony MANDEVILLE, of Pompton Plains, later settling in Lower Montville and then in Newfoundland, where he died about the year 1830, being survived by his wife for several years. Their children were:

Sarah, deceased, a missionary in the Presbyterian church;
Lydia, the wife of Mark SUTTON, of Elmira, New York;
Margaret, now Mrs. BOWLSBY, of Hanover township, Morris county;
Elma, who married John BROWN, of New York city;
Henry settled in the west;

Anthony, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Livingston township, Essex county, where he farmed for George G. Sickles for many years, married Miss Mary NORMAN, a daughter of David NORMAN, and subsequently moved to South Orange, where he died in 1862, his wife having passed away in 1856. Nine children were born to them, as follows:

Susan, deceased, who married James R. SMITH;
Eleanor, deceased, became the wife of John A. MEEKER;
John W., the father of our subject;
Alpheus, deceased, went to California in 1848 with a company of United States troops and died there in 1863;
Euphernia, deceased, married Aaron BALL;
Nathan, deceased;
William is a contractor in Illinois;
Harrison, deceased; and
Ezra, a contractor, living in Connecticut.

John W. YOUNG was born at Oak Ridge, New Jersey, on the 29th of April, 1825, and moved to Essex county when eight years of age. He learned the shoe business, and for several years was engaged in the manufacture of footwear, after which he embarked in farming, and continued to make that vocation his life work. In his political belief he is a stanch Republican and has served as a member of the board of county freeholders, the town committee, and was deputy sheriff of Essex county. In 1846 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha WALKER, a daughter of Jeremiah and Mehetable (SPEER) WALKER, of Caldwell, Essex county. She departed this life January 23, 1896, leaving three children, namely:

Walter A.;
Anna, who married George E. TOWNLEY, of Newark; and
Edward M., of Morristown, New Jersey.

Walter A. YOUNG was born in Livingston, Essex county, New Jersey, on the 24th of September, 1846, and acquired his literary education in the public schools of that place. He began his practical business career by learning the hatter's trade, and eventually engaged in the manufacture of hats, continuing in the same until 1884, when he settled on his present farm, in Lower Montville, and has since devoted his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with pronounced success. Politically Mr. YOUNG is a warm adherent of the Republican party, and has served as county and township committeeman.

In 1870 Mr. YOUNG was united in marriage to Miss Bessie BLENKINSOP, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy BLENKINSOP, of Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs.YOUNG is a communicant in the Protestant Episcopal church, and both she and her husband enjoy the high esteem of a host of friends.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.